By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 December 2014 at 12:00 am
ALBION – An Albion teen who allegedly broke into a village house and stole two guns with ammunition was arraigned in Orleans County Court on Monday.
Allan D. Walls, 16, of 428 East State St. was charged in October in connection to the burglary of the firearms, which were recovered, Albion police reported then.
Walls was arraigned for second-degree burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and fourth-degree criminal mischief.
Walls pleaded not guilty to the charges. He has been free on $5,000 bail. Orleans County Court Judge James Punch said he would keep the bail at $5,000.
Walls allegedly broke into a home on East State Street, gaining entry through a rear window. He allegedly threw a rock to break out the glass. Police say he stole two rifles – an AK-47 and a Ruger 10-22 – with ammunition.
He is to next appear in court on Dec. 15.
In other cases, Judge Punch arraigned the following:
Richard Wheeler, 45, of Lockport for one count of third-degree grand larceny, 16 counts of second-degree forgery and 16 counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument.
Wheeler allegedly took checks belonging to someone else and gave them to other people for cash. He has a prior criminal record as a persistent felon, District Attorney Joe Cardone said.
Punch set bail at $200,000 for Wheeler, who is in the county jail.
Wheeler pleaded not guilty and will next appear in court on Dec. 15.
Corey Baerman, 18, of South Liberty Street in Albion and Makaylee Maxwell, 18, of East Academy Street were arraigned. They allegedly were part of a burglary in the Village of Albion on Aug. 18. Two others also were allegedly part of the crime, but they haven’t been arrested yet.
Cardone said the four people allegedly broke into a house, stole multiple items and “caused a great deal of damage to the residence.”
Maxwell and Baerman were arraigned on second-degree burglary, petty larceny, fourth-degree criminal mischief and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
The judge set $2,500 bail for Maxwell, who has no prior criminal history, and $10,000 for Baerman, who Cardone said has a prior larceny charge.
Maxwell and Baerman both pleaded not guilty to the charges. They are to next appear in court on Dec. 15.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 December 2014 at 12:00 am
Our Sandstone Heritage
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Annunciation Church looms large on Lafayette Avenue in Buffalo.
BUFFALO – I admit I was a little lost in Buffalo on Saturday. But suddenly I felt like I was back in Orleans County.
On Lafayette Avenue there is a Catholic church that looks almost identical to St. Mary’s in Medina. I parked at St. Mary’s on Saturday morning to go cover the 5K race in Medina. A few hours later I was looking at St. Mary’s twin.
St. Mary’s in Medina looks a lot like Annunciation, except in Medina the taller tower is on the opposite side.
I was in Buffalo for a book event at The Buffalo History Museum. I was one of 75 local authors there.
I was antsy for much of the event because I wanted to get out and explore. Buffalo is a Medina sandstone powerhouse. After the book event, I went over to the Richardson Olmsted Complex to get some new photos. This site is being remodeled to become a hotel and conference center. It’s one of the great sandstone structures in the region.
I could see a church steeple in the distance and it appeared to be a sandstone building. But I didn’t find that church. Instead I was passing along Lafayette Avenue when I encountered the Annunciation Roman Catholic Church at 257 Lafayette Ave.
The cornerstone of this church was set in 1898. It was erected in 1900-1901.
It has two spires just like St. Mary’s, and has the Gothic Revival architectural style. However, Annunciation is a little different. It has the taller spire on the left side, where St. Mary’s is taller on the right. Otherwise, the look very much alike.
I did a little research and they were both designed by the same architect, Albert A. Post, a leading ecclesiastical architect and also a devote Catholic. He designed many Catholic churches in the Buffalo area and in Ontario, Canada.
The Annunciation site, part of Our Lady of Hope Parish, includes a school, rectory and convent. I like the old doors at these churches.
Annunciation even has distinctive door knockers.
St. Mary’s was built at the turn of the century during Medina’s boom years. City Hall and railroad depot also were built in this era.
The church served a primarily Irish congregation when it opened. St. Mary’s was designed in a Fourteenth Century English Gothic style.
Construction of St. Mary’s in Medina started in 1902. The church was dedicated and consecrated July 10, 1904. The north tower is 170 feet high with the south tower at 100 feet.
St. Mary’s was one of six sites to make the first class of the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame last December.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 December 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – The flag is at half-staff outside the Holley Elementary School in this photo taken at about 6:40 p.m. today. Flags were lowered in honor of a Fort Drum soldier who died a week ago in Afghanistan.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo today directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff in honor of Command Sgt. Major Wardell Benjamin Turner, who died on Nov. 24.
Turner died from wounds suffered when his vehicle was hit by a vehicle-borne IED in Kabul. Turner, a resident of Nanticoke, Maryland, was assigned to the Headquarters, United States Army Garrison at Fort Drum in northern New York.
“On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Command Sgt. Major Wardell Benjamin Turner,” Governor Cuomo said in a statement this morning. “We join with them in mourning the loss of Command Sgt. Major Turner and in honoring his heroism, leadership, and dedication to this great nation.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 December 2014 at 12:00 am
ALBION – Orleans County property owners will get a break in their county taxes in 2015 after the Legislature unanimously approved a $65,012,266 budget this evening.
The budget cuts taxes by 1.5 percent and reduces the tax rate from $10.11 to $9.89 per $1,000 of assessed property.
The budget also includes a debt payment on an $8 million bond for a series of bridge, culvert and county building projects in the next three years. That payment will be covered from $260,000 in gambling money approved by the state.
“It’s been a tough five years the county has gone through,” Chuck Nesbitt, the county chief administrative officer, said at a budget hearing. “We can finally invest back in infrastructure.”
The county has been burdened in recent years with the rising costs of Medicaid ($8.4 million of the county budget in 2015) and mounting deficits with the county-owned nursing home. The growth of Medicaid for counties has been capped and the nursing home will soon be sold after Jan. 1. That eliminates some of the big increases for the county budget.
The nursing home sale will take about 100 full-time workers and another 50 part-timers off the county payroll. The change to private ownership will spare the county a projected $1.5 million taxpayer subsidy in 2015, Nesbitt said.
He thanked department heads for running tight operations in recent years, with fewer employees and delayed equipment upgrades.
David Callard, the Legislature chairman, said the county has weathered the storm and now is in a better position to tackle infrastructure and other projects.
He, too, praised the county department heads for their efforts to control costs and provide needed services.
“We’re very fortunate and grateful to have people as outstanding as you,” Callard said after the hearing when the county voted to pass the budget.
The budget was unchanged from the tentative budget presented by Nesbitt on Nov. 12. Only one resident besides the county officials spoke at the public hearing.
Charles Pettit, a Ridgeway farmer and member of the Cornell Cooperative Extension board of directors, thanked the group for its funding for the agency.
The Legislature gave the Cornell Cooperative Extension an increase from $219,150 to $225,000. The Extension wanted more to bring back a part-time master gardener coordinator who would work in food preservation.
“You folks don’t have a big enough pile of money to work with and we don’t have a big enough pile of money to work with,” Pettit said during the hearing.
He also thanked the county for committing to replace six bridges in the next three years. He worries about the state-owned canal bridges. Many have weight restrictions that keep farm equipment and emergency vehicles from using them.
“If we don’t do something with them soon we’re in trouble,” Pettit said.
While the budget allows the county to increase services and projects, Nesbitt said the state-mandated programs continue to strain the county budget. Nine mandated programs represent 105 percent of the county’s $16,209,165 tax levy. That eats up some of the county’s sales tax revenue as well.
To make a significant dent in local county taxes, the state will need to fund its own programs, and stop consuming so many county dollars, Nesbitt said.
Even with the state mandates, the 2015 budget offers lots of good news for residents, Nesbitt said.
“It’s great to come here and say we’re cutting taxes and improving services, he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 December 2014 at 12:00 am
ALBION – A Carlton woman was sentenced today to 3 ½ years in state prison for a drug crime.
Cheryl A. Poole, 51, of Carlton pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. She admitted in court on Sept. 22 that she had prescription medication that was a controlled substance. She said she sold it from her home on March 13.
She is a second felony offender with a driving while intoxicated offense in July 2012. Orleans County Court Judge James Punch said Poole has accumulated numerous arrests over 30 years.
Poole and her attorney Larry Koss asked for leniency, saying Poole would benefit from drug and alcohol counseling.
“I am really remorseful about everything that has happened,” Poole told the judge.
As a second felony offender she faced a maximum of 1 ½ to 4 years in state prison. The judge gave her close to the maximum.
“It’s not just drugs and alcohol,” Punch told Poole during sentencing. “It’s morality, self-centeredness and violating the rights of others for your entire adult life.”
She was also ordered to pay $60 in restitution to the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task. If Poole paid the $60 today, she would avoid a $325 surcharge, but Poole said she didn’t have the $60.
Punch said she would have to pay the $60, plus $325 while she is in prison.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 December 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – 4-H members walk miniature horses and livestock in Saturday’s Parade of Lights in Medina.
ALBION – Orleans County legislators will have a public hearing at 7 p.m. today on a proposed $65 million county budget. The spending plan proposes a cut in the tax rate, from $10.11 to $9.89 per $1,000 of assessed property.
The hearing will be at the county courthouse with a vote from the Legislature to follow at the legislative chambers next door at the County Clerks Building.
The budget doesn’t include a full year of the nursing home, which is expected to be sold early in 2015. Without the nursing home, the county expects to be spared a $1.5 million subsidy that was projected for 2015.
The county is using some of those savings to tackle bridge projects, and building improvements. It also is boosting allocations to some agencies. However, not all agencies are satisfied with the county offering.
The share to the Cornell Cooperative Extension is proposed to increase from $219,150 to $225,000. That $5,850 is less of an increase than what the county has proposed giving the Orleans County Economic Development Agency (from $150,000 to $170,000) and the Soil and Water Conservation District (from $57,750 to $75,000).
The Extension would like to get at least a $15,000 boost. That would allow the organization to bring back a coordinator for the Master Gardener program. That position was eliminated about a year ago. If the county can boost the Extension to at least $240,000, a part-time position would be added to serve the master gardeners and also work with a food preservation program, said Jennifer Wajester, the Extension executive director.
“We’re at the point where we can’t cut anymore,” she said. “We would like to be at core staff level. We believe we’ve met their (legislators’) expectations. We really need that $15,000 so we can build the consumer/horticultural program.”
The county set aside $243,500 for Extension in 2010 and then approved cuts to the agency when the county was struggling with the costs of the nursing home as well as other programs.
Extension is working towards a stronger presence in the community. The 4-H program has grown from about 300 kids a year ago to more than 350 now, plus another 65 in a club program at Kendall Central School.
Wajester and Extension officials have been trying to rally support for the agency through emails, asking supporters to press legislators for a bigger funding increase.
The four public libraries also sought an increase from $10,000 to $42,883 or $1 per county resident. But legislators aren’t inclined to raise the funding, saying libraries can already generate tax dollars on their own.
Libraries are tied to tax cap just like the county. The $1 per resident “is pretty standard” in other counties, said Emily Cebula, director of the Yates Community Library.
Library leaders met with legislators in October to state their case for more funding. Cebula said her library would use an increase to help pay for more books and other materials.
“It seems like a minimal place to start for supporting a public library,” Cebula said.
The county budget also proposes increases for the Genesee-Orleans Regional Council on the Arts from $1,000 to $3,000, and the Sportsmen Federation from $500 to $1,000.
The Cobblestone Museum remains out of the budget, and that puzzles Mary Anne Braunbach, the museum’s president. Museum leaders gave legislators tours of the complex, a National Historic Landmark, in October and co-director Matt Ballard also addressed the Legislature in October.
David Callard, the Legislature chairman, said he is sympathetic to the museum, but he said the group hasn’t submitted a formal request for funding.
Braunbach is out of town today and will miss the public hearing. She thought the museum had made its case for being in the county budget.
Callard said legislators are eyeing bigger increases to Soil and Water and the Economic Development Agency because both have a big role in supporting businesses, whether agriculture or industry, which can lead to more jobs in the county.
“We don’t have the wherewithal to do everything for everybody,” he said.
The county has directed contingency funds to some agencies, including Extension and the Cobblestone Musuem. The county last year approved $11,500 at year end from contingency. That included $4,000 to GO Art!, $2,500 to the Extension, $2,000 for Soil and Water, $2,000 to the Sportmen’s Federation and $1,000 to the Cobblestone Museum.
Callard said the county could continue to direct contingency funds at the end of the year to agencies, if the money is there. That makes it unpredictable for the agency leaders, who are working on their own budgets for 2015.
MEDINA – There were activities from morning to night for Medina’s Old Tyme Christmas Celebration on Saturday.
The “Home for the Holidays”event included a Cutest Little Elf Contest. The top photo shows the winners, including from left: Madelene Wilcox of Buffalo, second place; Jaelyn Castricone of Medina, first place; and Aurora Owczarczak of Medina, third place. Jaelyn got to ride in the noon parade with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Santa and Mrs. Claus greet folks in the downtown.
Cutest Elf contest winner Jaelyn Castricone gets to ride with Santa.
All the cutest elf contestants were invited to walk in the noon parade to celebrate Santa’s arrival.
Melodee and Kadinz Sager of Medina decorate cookies at Case-Nic Cookies.
Maddysen Snook with her grandpa Christopher Seefeldt, both of Medina, enjoy the parade with Santa’s arrival.
Shawna Baldwin paints Olaf, a popular request, on Elizabeth Giarla of Barker at Wide Angle Gallery.
Catherine Cooper, director at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, reads classic Christmas stories during Story Hour at the library.
Horse-drawn wagon and sleigh rides were provided courtesy of Hartland Carriage of Gasport.
Jodi and Russ Peters sing Christmas Carols for the folks gathered at The Bread Basket.
Georgia Thomas wears some vintage clothes at the Medina Historical Society open house. Georgia said that the house was decorated circa 1850 with a tabletop Christmas tree with natural-type ornaments of ribbons, lace and gingerbread cookies.
Erik Wilcox of Buffalo was the winner of the Ugly Sweater Contest held at Tea & Couture Atelier.
Erik’s “ugly” sweater includes a cut-out framing his ipad playing Christmas videos and taped-on Christmas lights. He and his family learned of the Medina Olde Tyme Christmas Celebration by searching online. They thought it would be the perfect location for them to meet up with his mother Carol, of Greece, NY. They each traveled halfway for a family day of fun.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Matt C.M. Contracting is a repeat grand champion
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Matt Mundion and his giant igloo – The North Pole – was named grand champion in Saturday’s Parade of Lights. Mundion and his business, Matt C.M. Contracting, also won last year for a float with a team of deer pulling a sleigh stacked with presents.
Mundion this time built a framework of wood and attached white fabric on the outside to give an igloo look. He used two of the deer from last year – Rudolph and Dasher – as part of the display.
He also built a door in front so he could see to steer the igloo. He drove a four-wheeler underneath the igloo to travel the parade route.
Mundion is pictured under the igloo with Heather Schrader.
Other winners in the parade include:
Business/Commercial: Weed Man with Dancing Derrick Bradley on top of the float.
Service Organization: Albion FFA, which had a Polar Express themed float.
Not-For-Profit: Medina Band Boosters
Religious: Orleans County Christian School (with a Charlie Brown theme)
Fire Company: Shelby Fire Company
Other groups: Medina School Transportation Department. Pictured include, from left: Rob Dennis, transportation director; and drivers Tina Dennis, Linda Draper, Bonnie Carpenter and Mike Lyons.
Littlest Elf Award (for best design for involving youths and adults): Medina Head Start
Star Award: Bentley Brothers (Laura Bentley fills the snow machine on top of the float)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Runners round a bend on the towpath along the Erie Canal, which was part of the 5-kilometer course on Saturday for the second Home for the Holidays 5k.
There were 103 finishers in the race, which was up from the 85 in last year’s debut event.
Nolan Bouchane of Lyndonville finishes the race in 19:20, the second fastest time. Bouchane, 18, is a student at the University of Buffalo.
Sam Morgano of Orchard Park won with a time of 18:37. Tammy Putt of Allegany was the first woman to finish with a time of 19:36.
Some of the participants ran in Santa hats, jingle bells and other holiday outfits. This group includes, from left: Teresa Wilkins of Medina, Mercedes Houseman of Albion, and Debbie Tompkins of Medina.
The race started and finished next to the American Legion on Main Street.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Justin Swanger, who was well liked for sense of humor, died unexpectedly on Friday
Photo by Tom Rivers – A photo of Justin Swanger is displayed during a chicken barbecue and fund-raiser at Kirby’s Cider Mill in Albion today. Justine Daniels (right), one of Justin’s friends, is among the group that put on the fund-raiser to help pay for Justin’s funeral expenses.
ALBION – Justin Swanger was a freshman when he moved to Albion from Ohio. He soon won over friends with his sense of humor and contagious laugh.
He also earned a spot on the basketball team with a scrappy playing style and a knack for hitting long 3-pointers.
Swanger, 22, died in his sleep unexpectedly on Friday. His father, the late Jamie Swanger, also died as a young man.
Many of Justin’s friends gathered today to raise money for their friend’s funeral expenses. They served about 250 chicken barbecue dinners from Kirby’s Cider Mill on Brown Road. Justin worked there at times and also joined the farm at the Rochester Public Market, where the Kirby farm has been a vendor for many decades.
Justin was a dependable employee, showing up at 4 a.m. to get ready for the market in Rochester.
“A lot of times he was the one waking me up,” Mitchell Kirby said about those early mornings.
Justin enjoyed the fast pace at the market and interacting with the many customers. He also worked at Lowe’s.
During the chicken barbecue, a slide show included many photos of him with friends. Kirby played some of Justin’s favorite music.
“He’d want us to get together as friends and laugh,” Kirby said.
Justine Daniels graduated in the Class of 2010 with Justin. He made lots of friends because he was always so positive, she said.
“He was a great guy,” Justine said. “He was a people-person. He touched everyone with his smile. It didn’t matter what happened to him, he was always smiling.”
Justin liked to help friends with projects, whether landscaping or other work.
“He was a helping hand for anyone who needed it,” Justine said.
Justin is survived by his mother, Paula Canne, and his sister, Alyssa Swanger. For information about calling hours and his funeral, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MURRAY – Dark smoke billowed into the sky at about 4:30 p.m. today, making firefighters think there was a structure fire at 16210 Lynch Rd.
When firefighters arrived on scene, they learned the cause for the smoke was a rubbish fire, including a burning television and other household items that were in a pile. Firefighters from Fancher-Hulberton-Murray and Holley responded to the scene.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Many volunteers are at the State Street Park in Medina this morning, decorating Christmas trees and setting up a Nativity scene and other signs of the upcoming holiday season.
In the top photo, Dennis Dubai and Christine Limina string lights on trees at the park on Route 31, on the east side of the village.
Debbie Feltz and Gage Masters add lights to one of the trees.
The Medina Lions Club takes the lead in decorating the park. The “Decorate Medina” committee pays for bulbs and other supplies for the annual display. Pete Kaiser of the Lions Club heads the decorating effort.
“It should be nice tonight when the lights are on with all the people here for the Parade of Lights,” Kaiser said.
Lions Club members David Bellucci, with hammer, and Andrew Meier, right, join other volunteers in setting up one of the scenes at the park.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The 6th annual Parade of Lights in Medina this evening included a long lineup of floats with holiday lights. The event for the first time also included fireworks.
That display preceded the parade. In the photo above, Travis Phillips (orange hat) of Medina holds his daughter Evelyn while standing next to his wife Kristen. Their son Jaxon also joined them for the fireworks at 5:45 p.m. on Main Street, just before the start of the parade.
The fireworks went off north of Main Street. They gave a nice glow on the historic downtown business district.
The parade also include a grand marshal for the first time. Randy Bushover served in the role. He urged the residents to give back to Medina, their neighbors and family.
“Everyone of you is a light for your community,” Bushover told the crowd.
Orleans Hub will soon have highlights from the parade.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – A giant snowman makes its way down Main Street in a lighted float by MAK Plowing and Landscape in Medina. The 6th annual Parade of Lights included many businesses, civic groups and other organizations.
The parade drew a big crowd to downtown Medina as well as spectators along Park Avenue.
The floats received some last-minute setting up in the parking lot at the Olde Pickle Factory. 810 Meadworks, which celebrated its opening today, also debuted in the parade. The float is show in the Pickle Factory parking lot.
The Medina Transportation Association had a patriotic theme for its float. Several bus drivers marched down Main Street waving flags and dressed as soldiers while bus driver Mike Lyons dressed as Uncle Sam.
A school bus is decorated to look like a giant flag. The vehicle is the new bus for the marching band. Students submitted design ideas to bus drivers. Last year the bus drivers turned a bus into a pirate ship.
“We do it for the kids,” said Mike Lyons, one of the drivers. “Each year we try to do something.”
The Medina FFA created a float with a theme about toys that escaped. Many of the FFA members were dressed as presents. In the top of the float, Josh Wells is the Jack-In-The-Box. He is pictured with elves, Chantelle Kidney (left) and Abigail Maines, the FFA president.
The Orleans County Christian School participated in the parade and had several characters from Charlie Brown.
The Albion FFA had a Polar Express themed float. The newly formed Roy-Hart FFA also participated in the parade for the first time.
Matt Mundion of Matt C.M. Contracting created this float of the North Pole. Mundion made an igloo using scrap wood for a frame. That supported the fabric to give the igloo its white look. Mundion steered the igloo with a four-wheeler inside.
Regan Stacey and Tom Follman portray characters from the Frozen movie. They were featured on the float for Habitat for Humanity.
Dancing Derrick Bradley returned with the Weed Man from Albion.
A member of the Medina Marching Band performs for the crowd. Even his trombone was decorated for the occasion.
The Medina Fire Department has its ladder truck decked out for the parade. Several other fire companies joined in the parade.
East Shelby firefighters, including fire chief Mike Fuller (right), dressed as reindeer for the parade.
Orleans Hub will post more photos from the parade tomorrow.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2014 at 12:00 am
Editorial
File photo by Tom Rivers – Downtown Albion, shown in this picture from a year ago, has many independent merchants offering products and services.
For many of our local merchants, the next month is a make or break time for their businesses. I hope for their sake, and for our community’s, they succeed. But they can’t do it own their own. They need local residents to spend some of their money at these establishments.
It’s harder and harder for the small town merchants to make it. Customers seem entranced by the malls and mega-retailers with their massive marketing budgets. Dollars spent there don’t stay in our community and trickle back to other local businesses.
There is a perception of savings with the giant chains, and I suppose a trip to the mall is a chance for a little adventure. But I would encourage you to give the local downtown business districts a try. There are more businesses in our local downtowns than many people realize. Dollars spent there stay in our community.
The “mom and pop” businesses spend it with other local businesses. They employ local people. They try to keep up historic buildings that are part of our community identity.
Today is Small Business Saturday, a national initiative that seeks to direct some of the holiday shopping dollars with the local merchants.
Medina and Albion have events today as an added incentive to shop downtown. Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas is a jam-packed schedule from 9 a.m. to the evening, a schedule highlighted by a Parade of Lights at 6 p.m. Click here to see the full schedule.
The Albion Merchants Association is offering a raffle with $100 of gift certificates from local businesses.
The Orleans Hub is possible because of the many advertisers in our community. We won’t survive without these small businesses. These are the business owners who support other local efforts. They are the ones who sponsor 5K races, who take out ads in the school yearbooks, who give baskets of items for benefit fund-raisers.
These are the businesses that build a strong community. They are deserving of your support.
